MEMORY OF ANIMALS. 



98. While it is incontestable that instinct is the predominant 

 spring of action with the inferior species, it is nevertheless impos- 

 sible to deny many animals the possession of a certain degree of 

 intelligence. Many are evidently endowed, not only with memory, 

 but even with judgment, and a certain degree of the reasoning 

 faculty. 



99. That many species possess the faculty of memory in a high 

 degree of development is evident. Domesticated animals in 

 general know and remember their homes and their owners. A 

 horse, even after having made a single excursion from his stable, 

 will recognise the road to it on his return, and it is even affirmed 

 that upon returning after several years' absence to a locality which 

 he has inhabited for a sufficient time to become familiar with it, 

 he will again recognise it, and left to himself will find his way 

 into the stable he formerly occupied, and resume the possession of 

 his former stall. The dog, the elephant, and other domesticated 

 animals, recognise, even after longer intervals, those who have 

 treated them well or ill, and manifest accordingly their gratitude 

 or their vengeance. 



100. It happened not long since that an elephant in one of the 

 collections publicly exhibited in this country, extending his trunk 

 between the bars of his stall, suddenly struck down with it an 

 individual among a crowd of spectators, obviously selected by the 

 animal for the infliction of the blow. A circumstance so singular 

 excited inquiry, more especially as it was seen that the person 

 attacked had not in any way at the time offended or molested the 

 animal. It was ascertained, however, upon inquiry, that some 

 weeks previously the same individual had visited the menagerie, 

 and had pricked the extremity of the trunk of the creature with 

 some sharp instrument, taking care in doing so to be beyond its 

 reach. 



101. Even fishes do not appear to be altogether destitute of 

 memory, since eels approach upon the call of their keeper. 

 Serpents in menageries also manifest the same faculty. 



102. The actions by which animals show the exercise of a certain 

 degree of reasoning are scarcely less numerous. Thus, the dog, 

 which is kept in a cage, will gnaw the bars if they are of wood, 

 but will quietly resign himself to his captivity if they are of iron, 

 because he understands that since he can make an impression on 

 the bars in the first case by gnawing them, he may by continued 

 efforts cut them through and effect his liberation ; but finding the 

 first efforts in the other case unavailing, he infers that their con- 

 tinuance could never accomplish his object. 



When a dog sees his master put on his hat, the animal infers at 

 once that he is going out, and jumping upon him loads him with 



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